2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders season

CFL team season March 2026 Saskatchewan Roughriders 2008 12–6 2nd, West Ken Miller Eric Tillman Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field Lost West Semi-Final Wes Cates Gene Makowsky Weston Dressler Image:CFL SSK Jersey 2008.png Roughriders seasons The 2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders finished in second place in the West Division with a 12–6 record for the second consecutive year. It was their 51st season in the Canadian Football League. The Roughriders attempted to repeat as Grey Cup champions, but, due to an abundance of injuries, lost to the BC Lions in the West Semi-Final game. Off-season Several months after capturing the 2007 Grey Cup, 2007 CFL coach of the Year Kent Austin stepped down as head coach to become the offensive co-ordinator at Ole Miss. In accepting this position in the NCAA, Austin turned down a very lucrative contract that the Riders had offered.http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/CFL/Saskatchewan/2008/01/17/4777911-sun.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160309145043/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/CFL/Saskatchewan/2008/01/17/4777911-sun.html dead March 9, 2016 Austin jumps ship for Ole Miss canoe.com 2008-11-29 On February 6, 2008, Eric Tillman announced that the new head coach would be Ken Miller. Miller was formerly an offensive coordinator under Austin.CANOE – SLAM! Sports – CFL – Saskatchewan: Riders hire Miller as coachApril 2026 medicmedic Last season's starting quarterback Kerry Joseph was traded to the Toronto Argonauts on March 5, 2008, along with a third round pick in the 2010 CFL draft in exchange for offensive tackle Glenn January, defensive lineman Ronald Flemons, the Argos' first-round pick in the 2008 CFL draft and a 2010 second-round selection. On April 5, 2008 a report was released saying that the Roughriders set a new record for earnings in a single season. At the Roughriders' annual general meeting, Mike Back, the club's vice-president of finance and operations, reported the Roughriders registered a record profit of $1,737,377 in 2007.http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/CFL/Saskatchewan/2008/04/19/5333736-cp.html Riders season a financial success canoe.com 2008-11-29April 2026 medicmedic The Roughriders exceeded the $22 million plateau in total operating revenue and expenditures. This figure eclipsed the previous mark of $15 million. Total net assets increased by $1,998,857 to $5,096,393. These earnings were due in part to the championship season the Roughriders sported, which included 8 home game sellouts and their first home playoff game in 19 years. CFL draft Round Player Position School/Club team1 (via Toronto)Keith ShologanDefensive LinemanCentral Florida Knights2 (via Edmonton, via Toronto, via Edmonton)Jonathan St. PierreOffensive LinemanIllinois State Redbirds2 (via BC)Michael StadnykDefensive LinemanMontana Grizzlies4 (via BC)Jean-François Morin-RobergeOffensive LinemanMontreal Carabins5Jeff ZelinskiDefensive BackSaint Mary's Huskies6 (via Hamilton)Teale OrbanQuarterbackRegina Rams Pre-season Week Date Opponent Score Result Attendance A Fri, June 13 BC Lions 33–13 https://www.cfl.ca/schedule/year/2008/time_zone/0 CFL.ca Cfl.ca 2008-11-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20081207191328/http://www.cfl.ca/schedule/year/2008/time_zone/0 7 December 2008 dead Win 28,800 B Thurs, June 19 at Edmonton Eskimos 37–7 Lost 33,508 Regular season Crowd trouble On September 20, an unsportsmanlike incident occurred during a game in Saskatchewan. It started in the fourth quarter when Saskatchewan fans became angry about a B.C. play they thought should have been a face mask penalty. Lions defensive back Dante Marsh fired the ball into the stands, and Saskatchewan fans responded by pelting the Lions with full cans of beer.http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/CFL/Saskatchewan/2008/09/23/6849161-cp.html CFL fans behaving badly canoe.com 2008-11-29 April 2026 medicmedic The incident occurred on the night when the Roughriders were honouring past CFL legend Ron Lancaster, who recently died at the age of 69. The club subsequently announced that in order to reduce the probability of a similar incident beer in the east stands (where the visitors bench is) would be sold in plastic cups for at least the remainder of the season. Ron Lancaster On Thursday, September 18, Ron Lancaster, 69, died from an apparent heart attack, less than two months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.CBC Sports https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl-fans-remember-ron-lancaster-1.698618 CFL fans remember Ron Lancaster Cbc.ca 2008-09-19 2008-11-29 The former Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback, also had a long career as a head coach, with the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger Cats. He was diagnosed in late July and had been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Lancaster played 16 seasons with Saskatchewan, and led the team to five Grey Cup appearances. He led the club to their first CFL championship in 1966 when Saskatchewan upset the Ottawa Rough Riders 29–14.https://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/501517 Tributes pour in for 'Mr. CFL,' legendary Ron Lancaster 2008-09-18 2008-11-29 Toronto Dan Ralph The Star https://web.archive.org/web/20081021093458/http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/501517 21 October 2008 live When he retired in 1978, at the age of 41, he was the league's all-time leader in passing yards (50,535), touchdown passes (333), pass attempts (6,223) and completions (3,384).http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=9fdad57f-d163-4dae-9bbe-c4498026f466 CFL legend Ron Lancaster dies at 69 Canada.com 2008-11-29 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080919082636/http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=9fdad57f-d163-4dae-9bbe-c4498026f466 2008-09-19 He also suffered more interceptions than any other quarterback in CFL history.http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=14252 Ron Lancaster Histori.ca 2008-11-29 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101229213655/http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=14252 2010-12-29 He had also passed for more yards than any passer in professional football history. Season standings Season schedule Week Date Opponent Score Result Attendance Record1 Sat, June 28 vs. Edmonton Eskimos 34–13 Win 28,800 1–02 Fri, July 4 at BC Lions 26–16 Win 33,815 2–03 Sat, July 12 at Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33–28 Win 20,874 3–04 Sat, July 19 vs. Montreal Alouettes 41–33 Win 28,800 4–05 Sun, July 27 vs. Toronto Argonauts 28–22 Win 28,800 5–06 Sat, Aug 2 at Calgary Stampeders 22–21 Win 35,650 6–07 Thurs, Aug 7 vs. Calgary Stampeders 30–25 Loss 28,800 6–1 8 Bye9 Thurs, Aug 21 at Edmonton Eskimos 27–10 Loss 48,808 6–2‖10‖ Sun, Aug 31 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers 19–6 Win 30,985 7–211 Sun, Sept 7 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34–31 Win 29,770 8–212 Sat, Sept 13 at BC Lions 28–23 Loss 38,608 8–3‖13‖ Sat, Sept 20 vs. BC Lions 27–21 Loss 30,945 8–414 Sun, Sept 28 at Montreal Alouettes 37–12 Loss 20,202 8–515 Fri, Oct 3 vs. Calgary Stampeders 37–34 Win 30,945 9–516 Mon, Oct 13 at Calgary Stampeders 42–5 Loss 35,650 9–6‖17‖ Sun, Oct 19 vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats 30–29 Win 30,945 10–618 Sat, Oct 25 vs. Edmonton Eskimos 55–9 Win 30,945 11–619 Thurs, Oct 30 at Toronto Argonauts 45–38 Win 28,654 12–6 #006241 # white Games played with primary home uniforms. white # #006241 Games played with primary white uniforms. #006241 ‖#‖ white Games played with green retro uniforms. Roster 2008 Saskatchewan Roughriders final roster Quarterbacks 17 I Michael Bishop  4 I Darian Durant  9 I Steven Jyles Running backs 20 I Wes Cates 22 N Stu Foord 32 N Neal Hughes 33 N Chris Szarka Receivers  6 N Rob Bagg 12 I Adarius Bowman  7 I Weston Dressler 83 I Andy Fantuz 89 N Chris Getzlaf  2 N Corey Grant 77 N Michael Palmer Offensive linemen 67 N Mike Abou-Mechrek G 69 I Glenn January T 58 I Belton Johnson T 60 N Gene Makowsky T/G 63 N Steve Morley T 54 I Jeremy O'Day C 57 N Marc Parenteau G/C 52 N Wayne Smith G Defensive linemen 51 I Marcus Adams DT 97 I John Chick DE 46 I Kitwana Jones DE 95 N Luc Mullinder DT 96 N Scott Schultz DT 93 I Seante Williams DE Special teams 30 N Jamie Boreham P/K 10 N Luca Congi K/P 59 N Jocelyn Frenette LS Linebackers 49 N Yannick Carter 47 I Maurice Lloyd 31 I Sean Lucas 45 N Mike McCullough 42 I Anton McKenzie 48 I Renauld Williams Defensive backs 37 N Tristan Clovis 29 I Eddie Davis 15 I Lance Frazier 26 N Scott Gordon 19 I James Johnson 24 I Tad Kornegay  1 I Omarr Morgan 14 I James Patrick Reserve roster 38 I Hugh Charles RB 91 I Jimmy Verdon DTInjured list 90 I Stevie Baggs DE 92 I Dek Bake DE -- I Dalton Bell QB 80 I Carl Berman SB 66 N Chris Best G 27 I Henri Childs RB 39 N Sebastian Clovis DB 88 I Matt Dominguez WR  3 I D. J. Flick SB 21 I Denatay Heard DB 35 I Brandon Lynch LB 85 N David McKoy WR 25 N Leron Mitchell DB -- N Jean-François Morin-Roberge T 18 I Adam Nicolson SB -- N Kevin Scott LS 74 N Keith Shologan DT 80 I Gerran Walker WR Italics indicate American player Notable transactions Date Type Incoming Outgoing Team September 6, 2008 Free Agent Signing Adam Nicolson, Slotback 20px|Canadian N/A British Columbia Lions (2007) August 28, 2008 Release N/A Marcus Crandell, Quarterback 20px|American Saskatchewan Roughriders August 23, 2008 Trade Michael Bishop, Quarterback 20px|American Conditional 2011 CFL Canadian Draft choice Toronto Argonauts July 24, 2008 Free Agent Signing (for 2009) Kye Stewart, Linebacker 20px|American N/A Illinois State (NCAA) (2007) July 17, 2008 Release N/A Amariah Farrow, Offensive Lineman 20px|American Saskatchewan Roughriders July 8, 2008 Release N/A Airabin Justin, Defensive Back 20px|American Saskatchewan Roughriders July 7, 2008 Trade T.J. Acree, Wide Receiver 20px|American Rights to Brian Smith, Defensive Lineman 20px|American Argonauts' Third Round Canadian Draft Choice In 2011 Ronald Flemons, Defensive End 20px|American Roughriders' Fifth Round Canadian Draft Choice In 2011Toronto Argonauts June 28, 2008 Draft Pick Signing Keith Shologan, Defensive Lineman 20px|Canadian N/A San Diego Chargers (NFL) (2008) June 18, 2008 Release N/A Brock Stratton, Linebacker 20px|American Saskatchewan Roughriders June 6, 2008 Release N/A Quinton Jones, Defensive Back 20px|American Saskatchewan Roughriders June 5, 2008 Trade Leron Mitchell, Cornerback 20px|Canadian Jamal Robertson, Running Back 20px|American Toronto Argonauts June 2, 2008 Retirement N/A Tim Fleiszer, Defensive Line 20px|Canadian Saskatchewan Roughriders June 2, 2008 Retirement N/A Kennedy Nkeyasen, Defensive Back 20px|Ghanan Saskatchewan Roughriders June 1, 2008 Free Agent Signing Denatay Heard, Defensive Back 20px|American N/A Stillman College (NCAA) (2007) June 1, 2008 Trade Future Considerations and a Negotiation List Player Kevin Garrett, Defensive Back 20px|American Winnipeg Blue Bombers June 1, 2008 Release N/A Jason Mitchell, Wide Receiver 20px|American Saskatchewan Roughriders May 31, 2008 Release N/A T.J. Stancil, Linebacker 20px|American Saskatchewan Roughriders May 26, 2008 Free Agent Signing Adarius Bowman, Wide Receiver 20px|American N/A Oklahoma State (NCAA) (2007) May 26, 2008 Free Agent Signing Stu Foord, Wide Receiver 20px|Canadian N/A Regina Thunder (CJFL) (2007) May 26, 2008 Free Agent Signing Brad Peters, Offensive Lineman 20px|Canadian N/A Saskatoon Hilltops (CJFL) (2007) May 11, 2008 Free Agent Signing Weston Dressler, Wide Receiver 20px|American N/A North Dakota (NCAA) (2007) May 5, 2008 Free Agent Signing Kevin Scott, Offensive Lineman/Long Snapper 20px|Canadian N/A Queen's (CIS) (2007) April 1, 2008 Free Agent Signing Kevin Garrett, Defensive Back 20px|American N/A Calgary Stampeders March 12, 2008 Free Agent Signing Omarr Morgan, Defensive Back 20px|American N/A Edmonton Eskimos March 5, 2008 Trade Glenn January, Offensive Tackle 20px|American Ronald Flemons, Defensive Lineman 20px|American Argonauts first round selection in the 2008 CFL Draft Argonauts second round selection in the 2010 CFL Draft Kerry Joseph, Quarterback 20px|American Riders third round pick in the 2010 CFL Draft Toronto Argonauts March 4, 2008 Free Agent Signing Brock Stratton, Linebacker 20px|American N/A Texas Tech (NCAA) (2006) February 27, 2008 Free Agent Signing N/A Jovon Johnson, Defensive Back 20px|American Erie RiverRats (AIFA) February 19, 2008 Free Agent Signing N/A Reggie Hunt, Linebacker 20px|American Montreal Alouettes February 8, 2008 Trade Steven Jyles, Quarterback 20px|American Fred Perry, Defensive End 20px|American Edmonton Eskimos January 31, 2008 Retirement N/A Val St. Germain, Offensive Lineman 20px|Canadian N/A January 29, 2008 Release N/A Corey Holmes, Running Back 20px|American N/A January 29, 2008 Free Agent Signing Quinton Jones, Defensive Back 20px|American N/A San Diego Chargers (NFL) (2007) January 29, 2008 Free Agent Signing James Patrick, Defensive Back 20px|American N/A New England Patriots (NFL) (2007) January 23, 2008 Free Agent Signing Rob Bagg, Wide Receiver 20px|Canadian N/A Queen's (CIS) (2007) January 23, 2008 Free Agent Signing Jason Mitchell, Wide Receiver 20px|American N/A USC (NCAA) (2006) November 28, 2007 Retirement N/A Yo Murphy, Wide Receiver 20px|American N/A Player stats Passing Player Att Comp % Yards TD INT Rating Michael Bishop 274 160 58.4 2550 10 13 81.9 Darian Durant 129 77 59.7 1122 7 6 86.8 Marcus Crandell 128 67 52.3 924 7 3 84.3 Steven Jyles 61 42 68.9 533 4 6 76.7 Andy Fantuz 1 0 0.0 0 0 1 (−414.6)https://www.cfl.ca/statistics/league/stat/Passing/year/2008/ CFL.ca Cfl.ca 2008-11-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20081211021918/http://cfl.ca/statistics/league/stat/Passing/year/2008/ 2008-12-11 dead Rushing Player No. Yards Average TD FumblesWes Cates 216 1229 5.7 12 4Michael Bishop 46 244 5.3 4 5Darian Durant 27 204 7.6 1 1Stuart Foord 27 162 6.0 2 0 Neal Hughes 35 130 3.7 4 1https://www.cfl.ca/statistics/league/stat/Rushing/year/2008/ CFL.ca Cfl.ca 2008-11-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20081018181320/http://www.cfl.ca/statistics/league/stat/Rushing/year/2008/ 2008-10-18 dead Receiving Player No. Yards Avg. Long TD Weston Dressler 56 1123 20.1 67 6 Andy Fantuz 36 488 13.6 31 3 Wes Cates 39 451 11.6 40 2 Rob Bagg 22371 16.9 72 0 Adarius Bowman 23 358 15.6 73 3https://www.cfl.ca/statistics/league/stat/Receiving/year/2008/ CFL.ca Cfl.ca 2008-11-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20081210163501/http://www.cfl.ca/statistics/league/stat/Receiving/year/2008/ 2008-12-10 dead Awards and records The Roughriders started the season 6–0 for the first time since 1934. Wes Cates, Led CFL, Rushing Touchdowns (12) Weston Dressler (SB), Saskatchewan Roughriders – CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award Jeremy O'Day (C), Saskatchewan Roughriders – Tom Pate Memorial Award CFL All-Star Selections Wes Cates, Running Back Gene Makowsky, Offensive Guard Anton McKenzie, Linebacker Maurice Lloyd, Linebacker https://www.cfl.ca/page/players_allstars08 CFL.ca – 2008 All-Stars Cfl.ca 2009-07-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20090306195043/http://www.cfl.ca/page/players_allstars08 2009-03-06 dead CFL West All-Star Selections Wes Cates, Running Back Gene Makowsky, Offensive Guard Anton McKenzie, Linebacker Maurice Lloyd, Linebacker https://www.cfl.ca/article/2008-east-west-division-all-stars CFL.ca – 2008 East & West Division All-Stars Cfl.ca 2008-11-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20081206180127/http://www.cfl.ca/article/2008-east-west-division-all-stars 2008-12-06 dead Playoffs West Semi-Final Date and time: Saturday, November 8, 3:30 PM Central Standard TimeVenue: Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field, Regina, Saskatchewan Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TotalBC Lions 7 9 10 7 33Saskatchewan Roughriders 0 6 3 3 12 References 30em Saskatchewan Roughriders Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders seasons Category:2008 in sports in Saskatchewan